The HEPA filter is a kind of air filter, mainly used to capture particles above 0.3um dust and all kinds of suspended matter, which plays an important role in ensuring cleanliness and microbial control of the clean room. The grade of a HEPA filter determines its filtration capacity, so what are the filtration grades of a HEPA filter? What is the difference between HEPA filters h13 and h14?
The filtration grade and standard of HEPA filter
The filtration grade and standard of HEPA filters are usually related to the capture efficiency of particles and size. In Europe, the filtration grade of HEPA filters is usually defined according to the EN 1822 standard, which divides HEPA filters into different grades, and each grade corresponds to different filtration efficiencies and application ranges. The following are the common filtration classes of HEPA filters in the EN 1822 standard:
E10: particle capture efficiency of not less than 85%, applicable to capture particles with a diameter greater than 0.3 microns.
E11: particle capture efficiency of not less than 95%, suitable for capturing particles with a diameter greater than 0.3 microns, widely used in some special requirements of the environment, such as laboratories.
E12：Particle capture efficiency of not less than 99.5%, suitable for capturing particles with a diameter of more than 0.3 microns, commonly used in areas with high air quality requirements, such as medical, and pharmaceutical production.
H13：Particle capture efficiency of not less than 99.95%, suitable for capturing particles with a diameter greater than 0.3 microns, especially suitable for high cleanliness requirements of the environment, such as operating rooms.
H14: particle capture efficiency of not less than 99.995%, suitable for capturing particles with a diameter greater than 0.3 microns, more demanding clean environments, such as clean rooms.
These filtration levels correspond to different particle capture efficiencies and suit different environments and needs. It should be noted that different standards and grades may be used in different regions and countries, so when selecting a HEPA filter, it is best to refer to the applicable standards and the manufacturer's product specification sheet to ensure that the filter you select meets your air purification needs.
Difference between HEPA filters h13 and h14
H13 and H14 HEPA filters are common HEPA filter grades that can effectively remove particulate matter above 0.3 microns. So what is the difference between H13 and H14? It is mainly in the filtration efficiency. According to the Most Penetrating Particle Size Method test, the filtration efficiency of H13 HEPA filters reaches 99.95% at 0.3-micron dust particles, while the filtration efficiency of H14 HEPA filters is even higher at 99.995%-99.999%.
The filtration rate of the H14 HEPA filter for dust particles contained in the air is a little higher than that of the H13 HEPA filter. The other two are not much different, and they can be used interchangeably in practical applications. However, if the environmental requirements of the precision are very high, then it is better to use HEPA filters with H14 or above.
In addition to the difference in filtration efficiency, there are some other subtle differences between H13 and H14 HEPA filters, for example, the H14 HEPA filter wind resistance is greater than the H13 HEPA filter, so the noise will be a little bigger; at the same time, due to the H14 HEPA filter filtration efficiency is higher, so its service life will be a little higher than the H13.